We used the Yudu screen printing machine (found here) to make t-shirts featuring a favorite album cover from my youth.

Prep Your Image

We took an early U2 album cover and used Photoshop to make it a black and white bitmap image, then printed it out on a transparency.

Use the Yudu to Burn the Image and Print

Next, we simply followed the directions which came with the Yudu. This involved burning the image into our screen (the light is in the Yudu machine — no extra equipment needed), the stretching out the t-shirt, placing the printed screen on top, adding ink to the screen, and scraping the ink across the image.

Have a stack of printable papers nearby for practice and for fun.

We tried different inks and different placements on the tees. And, because it’s hard to stop printing things once you get into the swing of it, we also tried the U2 print on different papers, one of Ben Blair’s tees, and a clipboard that was sitting on the counter.

When my son came running down the stairs with every blank t-shirt he owns in his arms, I knew it was time to shut it down — before everything we owned was covered in the U2 October album cover.

Years ago, we tried to set up a screen printing space in our basement utility room, but dealing with the emulsion chemicals and figuring out a good light to make the exposure is tricky. The Yudu solves both of those problems. Everything you need to get started comes with the machine.

I’ve been following this machine since Jordan posted it on her site and it’s available now on the HSN site. It’s $279 and it’s a basic starter set, I’m pretty sure the HSN site did the world launch of it first and they’re offering free shipping too!

I am so excited to hear your thoughts on this. I just today saw one advertised in the Jo-Ann flyer for $199. I was wondering about it and then cam across your blog on it. Thanks so much for your insight.

I saw these screen printers for sale this week at Joann’s so they are currently on the market. But what I’ve found with so many of the products of Provo Craft, and others, is that next week there’ll be a new and upgraded model. While the novelty of owning one is great, you wonder if you should wait to see what’s around the corner.

Design Mom!Thank you for testing out the yudu and reporting on it. The photos are beautiful and I’m glad your kids had so much fun with it. Right now the machines are available at Joanns and HSN. This month they will also be in Michaels stores. Since the machine has just launched, the machines are harder to find but will be showing up in lots of retails stores soon.You can find it online with some independent resellers as well.Good luck and happy yudu-ing!

I bought mine at Jo-Ann’s for $199, then I tried to get other accesories to start. There were none. I’ve been going to the store about 1-2 a week for 2 months. Tonight I’m breaking it out, finally. We’ll see how it goes. I do wish that the accesories were more afforable

I bought one from JoAnn’s when they were $199 and have been searching for about a month to find supplies. I went into Michael’s over the weekend and they were demonstrating one. I asked about supplies and was so happy to hear they had some. I can’t wait to try mine out.

My son is a marine currently in Afganistan due to return in June I want to celebrate his return by making 40 t-shirts on the yudu of his favorite design (a rottweiler)for family members to greet him when he returns. There are 3 colors, black, brown and white. I tried to make a black transparency with photoshop but didn’t get a true black. Anyone have a step by step in getting a true black transparency and also how to create multicolors?

montanez reed

Hello my name is montanez and i just got the yudu and im having trouble printing my image off the com onto the transparency screen i cant figure out if its my printer or the yudu paper.I have an Artisan 810 printer and idk if thats the problem But if any 1 can help me with this i would really appreciate it thanks again . montanezreed@yahoo.com

We have one. We had not had any success in getting the emusion to stick to the screen. I have gotten the screen wet, but soaking and just wet enough with a napkin like the video says, but nothing seems to be working. Any suggestions?

derrick

yeah i had that same problem letting the emulsion stick to the screen. the video says wait 20 min to dry but thats bs. what you need to do is put it in the dryer bed past the 20 minutes and when its done take a blow dryer or let it air dry out side. you want it to be dry all over before you peel it. if you take it out when the instructions say to, it will peel or some will stick and the rest wont.